Residents and business owners in Apapa area of Lagos have issued a 21-day ultimatum to Federal and Lagos State Governments to clear the area of all articulated vehicles or incur the wrath of the residents.
The aggrieved residents at a news briefing on Friday in Apapa vowed to shut down indefinitely all business activities within Apapa and environs failure of government to comply with their demand.
Speaking on behalf of the residents and business owners, retired Brigadier-General Shola Ayo Vaughan said they were prepared to block all entry both in and out of Apapa since the traffic gridlock had already wrecked their businesses and robbed them of good lives.
Vaughan said government and its agencies in connivance with the shipping companies deliberately refused to implement policies meant to keep the trucks and containers off the road so as to force landlords, residents and business owners out of Apapa.
According to him, the long plan of government and its allies was to “turn Apapa into a port area”.
Vaughan alleged that the situation had been made worse because shipping companies fed fat on demurage charges on containers.
Another resident, Dr. Akinkunge regretted that they now lived in perpetual fear due to recurring armed robbery attacks by hoodlums who have turned Apapa to a hiding place.
She also lamented that some families, during emergencies, lost loved ones in need of medical care to total blockade of access roads by the articulated vehicles.